Integrate Samples into Your Live Drum Kit

If you want a simple way to incorporate electronic drums into your acoustic kit, look no further than the Roland SPD-SX. This sampling drum pad provides easy sample creation and playback tools, along with cool effects, expressive playability, lots of internal memory, USB functionality, included software for managing your samples, and much more. Tap it with your fingers or hit it with drumsticks -- do whatever feels natural. You'll like having the drum pad as part of your DJ booth, keyboard rig, percussion setup, or your existing drum kit -- be it acoustic or electronic. Whether you intend to trigger samples, loops, or complete backing tracks in the studio or on stage, Roland's SPD-SX is there to lend a helping hand.

Hands-On Control Meets Advanced Triggering and Sampling Technology

Giving you hands-on control of your one-shots, loops, and backing tracks, the SPD-SX sports nine rubber pads, two independent real-time control knobs, and four dedicated effect buttons, plus a large backlit LCD to view settings and programs in any lighting condition. You'll always know what's up with the pads -- when you trigger sample phrases, each pad's companion LED lights up to show when the pads are in play. Like level meters on a mixing board, the LEDs change illumination strength according to audio-level activity; on stage or off, the high-contrast red divider lines help you see the pad zones clearly.

Master Effects Engine Onboard

Built-in effects let you tweak your samples in real-time. Roland's SPD-SX has three multi-effects units: one master unit and two units that are assignable per kit. Four front-panel buttons and two control knobs let you adjust the filter, delay, short looper, and user-assignable effect in real time, for a dynamic, creative performance.

Easy Multi-Pad Sampling

The drum pad also lets you create multisampled phrases and pad maps on the fly. While audio streams in from an external audio player or computer (via 1/4" analog stereo inputs or USB), just strike each pad at the appropriate start or end points and the sample will be automatically truncated and assigned to that pad.

Storage for Your Sample Collection

You can store and carry your entire sample library in the SPD-SX, since the sampling drum pad has an impressive 2 GB of internal memory. That's enough space to house approximately 360 minutes of audio or 10,000 files at 44.1 kHz/16-bit mono. When you want to add more samples to the set, use the SPD-SX's built-in USB ports to import audio files from USB flash memory.

Manage Your Audio Files with SPD-SX Wave Manager Software

The included SPD-SX Wave Manager software app also lets you import audio files directly from computer via USB, assign the samples to each pad, and organize the samples to suit your setup.

- Sampling Time (Total time for all wave data) : Approx. 180 min. in stereo (360 min. in mono) * Since the internal memory included with the SPD-SX contains preload data, the available sampling time will be less than the time above

Product Description

The Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad puts powerful sample creation and playback under your sticks with innovative audio-capturing features, expressive playability, three multi-effects engines, and much more. The perfect addition to any acoustic or electronic drum kit, percussion setup, DJ booth, or keyboard rig, the SPD-SX is equally at home on the live stage, in the recording studio, pre-production suite, or dance club. The Roland SPD-SX takes many of the proven concepts from its predecessor and raises them to a higher level. Whether you're firing off one-shot samples, looped phrases, or complete audio playback tracks, the Roland SPD-SX is loaded with recemt technology and tools to get the job done with speed, precision, and convenience. Enjoy the most advanced triggering and sampling technology in a sleek, easy-to-use percussion instrument.

The Playing Field

The Roland SPD-SX is equipped with nine highly sensitive rubber pads with two independent real-time control knobs and four dedicated effect buttons. Roland's most advanced triggering technology ensures the ultimate in accuracy and fully dynamic performance, while a large backlit LCD provides easy-to-read data in all varieties of environments. Each pad has a companion LED that illuminates to show the pad's status. When you trigger sample phrases, the LEDs remain lit to show you which pads are in play and which are not. In addition, the LEDs change illumination strength according to audio-level activity (similar to level meters on a mixing board). The high-contrast red divider lines help you see the pad zones clearly onstage.

Improved Playability and Functionality

Today, increasing numbers of drummers and percussionists need to incorporate audio samples into their performance. The Roland SPD-SX will satisfy their increasing requirements with essential features such as individual click output routing, dedicated volume controls, Pad Check function, individual Sub Out, and more.

Onboard Effects

The Roland SPD-SX has three multi-effects units onboard: one master unit and two units that are assignable per kit. The master effects engine lets you perform in real time like a DJ using the dedicated front-panel controls. Get your hands on the filter, delay, short looper, and user-assignable effect -- all of which can be creatively adjusted with the four front-panel buttons and two control knobs.

Multi-Pad Sampling

There's much more to the Roland SPD-SX than meets the eye. A powerful-yet-friendly lineup of features has been built into this little powerhouse, such as Multi-Pad Sampling. While audio streams in from an external audio player or computer (via Audio In or USB), simply strike each pad at the appropriate start/end points, and the sample will be automatically truncated and assigned to that pad. It's a fast, friendly way to create multi-sampled phrases and pad maps.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
"Unlimited potential!"

Sound:
Great Sampling pad! I DJ and Perform with tracks I have created and this is just what I have been looking for. Up until now, I have been struggling with incorporating a live percussion rig with EDM. I have been using the Roland HPD-10 with my hands while striking Zildjian Gen16 cymbals with sticks, all while performing with EDM. Thank you Roland for making my set so much easier to organize!
Ease of Use:
There is a bit of a learning curve on preprograming your sounds and loops into the SPD-SX, however once you have taken care of this, then you are golden!
Value:
It isn't cheap, but it is built to last. I will pay for something that doesn't break down during a live set...that's priceless!
Manufacturer Support:
Never dealt with Roland support...but that just means that the products work.
The Wow Factor:
You Tube some of the vids on the SPD-SX. There's a lot of potential using this.

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Roland SPD-SX"

Overall:
First of all, zZounds is an excellent company to work with! The first unit I received had some issues (e.g. a dirty electronic noise being produced just prior to the sound when striking a pad) and I was able to exchange it per their policy with zero issues.
Note that THIS UNIT DOES NOT HAVE A QUANTIZE FEATURE which is unimaginable. So, if you're looking to create spot-on drum loops, etc., forget it! What's even more frustrating is that the older model (SPD-S) does have that feature.
The reason I bought the unit was to trigger samples and create drum loops...so basically 50% of the unit is worthless.
A lot of the issues w/ the older model (lack of memory, lack of computer interface, etc.) have been resolved which is nice but it's nothing more (to me) than an overpriced controller at this point due to the abovementioned. I bought the Maschine Mikro MK2 to create drum loops and then load those to the SPD-SX. The Maschine product, worth every penny!
The sounds are pretty good but very few when compared to the Octapad, Roland should have stepped-it-up in this area considering the price you're paying.
There are a lot of nice new features but the most important piece is now missing, still baffled over this.
I would find other options if I had to do it over again. The price, minimal sounds, and lack of quantization are a deal breaker in hindsight.

Our extended 45-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies on
this productBuy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds "Before I made my first purchase from zZounds, I had a couple of questions. All of they answered them were quickly and courteously by their sales staff. I have recommended this site to all my friends. This is a great site to shop and I love the payment options. Thanks, zZounds!" - Customer on January 4, 2015

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

1. zZounds offers the industry‘s most musician-friendly payment plans

zZounds offers a variety of Play as You Pay installment plans that allow you to get the gear you want today. While our competitors might offer house credit cards that require you to fill out an application and pass a credit check, our payment plans are easy to get, simple to use, and, best of all, accrue zero interest. Unlike those house credit cards that can leave you vulnerable to exorbitant interest charges once the promotional period ends, we never have and never will charge interest when you take advantage of one of the zZounds Play as You Pay plans.

2. zZounds guarantees the lowest price

Seen it for less somewhere else? Get it for less at zZounds. Simply click the “Seen it for less?” link on any product page and as long as we‘re not losing money, we‘ll beat any legitimate competitor‘s lowest price, usually within two hours. Want our best price even faster? Call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll provide you with a lower price on the phone. Also, if you purchase from us and later find the product for less elsewhere, call or email us within 45 days, and we‘ll refund you the difference.

3. zZounds gets you your gear fast

At zZounds, you‘ll get your gear fast and, usually, with free delivery. Because we have warehouses in New Jersey, Nevada and Mississippi, nearly 95 percent of Americans reside within our two-day shipping zones. Combine this with the fact that many of our best-selling products qualify for free two-day delivery and you get expedited shipping without the additional cost.

4. zZounds makes returns super easy

Buy it, try it, like it, or return it to us for a full refund. It‘s just that simple. If you‘re not in love with what you bought, return it to zZounds within 45 days, and we‘ll promptly arrange for an exchange or a refund. No hassles. No hidden charges. And if a product‘s defective or damaged, call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637), and we‘ll email you a prepaid shipping label so you can easily return it to us at zero cost to you.

5. zZounds delivers top-rated customer service

zZounds has received multiple Bizrate® Circle of Excellence Platinum awards, placing us in the top 0.7 percent of Bizrate‘s network of 5,200 retailers. Our success in meeting the needs of our customers -- since 1996, we‘ve satisfied over 1,000,000 people -- is due in large part to the fact that zZounds only hires experienced musicians to answer your calls and emails, and they are never paid a commission.